MOSCOW, MARCH 15 (RAPSI) – Two former ministers of the Omsk region stand accused of abuse of power that caused damage to the region's budget estimated at 1,411 billion rubles ($20,1 million), RIA Novosti reported on Tuesday.

A criminal case was opened against Oleg Ilyushin, former minister of transport of the Omsk region, and Rita Fomina, former minister of finances of the region.

Investigators allege that Ilyushin acting on behalf of NPO Mostovik in December 2013 signed two decrees that violated public procurement legislation.

Mostovik received 1,2 billion rubles ($17,1 million) for the construction of a bypass road near Omsk, but the company failed to meet the terms of the contract.

In 2014 Ilyushin allegedly conspired with Fomina to provide 205 million rubles ($2,9 million) to Mostovik which had been hired for the construction of Omsk metro rail system. The money were sought by Mostovik for a refinancing of its leveraged loans, but the company failed to reach a deal with the banks according to investigators. As a result, Mostovik failed to meet the terms of this contract as well.